Polymorphisms at LDLR locus may be associated with coronary artery disease through modulation of coagulation factor VIII activity and independently from lipid profile

High levels of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) have been associated with cardiovascular disease. Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) has been recently demonstrated to contribute to FVIII clearance from plasma. The aim of this study was to evaluate 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SMARCA4-LDLR gene locus (rs1122608, rs2228671, and rs688) and FVIII coagulant activity (FVIII:c) in subjects with (n=692) or without (n=291) angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease (CAD). High FVIII:c levels were an independent risk factor for CAD. The rs688 and rs2228671 genotypes were predictors of FVIII:c with T alleles associated with higher FVIII:c levels. The rs2228671T allele was associated also with reduced total and LDL cholesterol levels. With respect to the risk of CAD, no association was found for rs2228671. Consistently with higher FVIII:c levels, the rs688T allele was associated with CAD, while, consistently with a favourable lipid profile, the rs1122608T allele was associated with a decreased CAD prevalence. After adjustment for all classical cardiovascular risk factors, including plasma lipids, rs688 remained associated with CAD (OR for T carriers: 1.67 with 95%CI 1.10-2.54). Haplotypes analysis confirmed such results. Our data suggest that SNPs at LDLR locus modulate FVIII:c levels and may be associated with CAD risk independently from plasma lipids.